Mozart: Requiem Mass

The Requiem Mass was commissioned anonymously by Count Franz von Walsegg in July, 1791. The Count wanted to pass the work off as his own and have it performed in memory of his recently deceased wife.

Mozart worked on the Requiem Mass during the Fall of 1791 but passed away on December 5 before completing the work. His wife, Constance, was eager to have the mass finished in order to receive full payment from the Count. At least two other composers, Joseph von Eybler and Franz Xaver Süssmayr, worked on the final score and finished it during 1792.

The Count received the final score in December 1793. The Mass was performed in the memory of the his wife in the church at Wiener-Neustadt on Dec. 14.

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Note: The YouTube videos were created by Lorena. The I found the text and translation at Cal Tech's website.

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine,

et lux perpetua luceat eis.


Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion,

et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem.

Exaudi orationem meam,

ad te omnis caro veniet.

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Dimine,

et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Grant them eternal rest, O Lord,

and may perpetual light shine on them.

Thou, O God, art praised in Sion,

and unto Thee shall the vow be performed in Jerusalem.

Hear my prayer,

unto Thee shall all flesh come.

Grant them eternal rest, O Lord,

and may perpetual light shine on them.

Kyrie eleison.

Christe eleison.

Kyrie eleison.

Lord have mercy upon us.

Christ have mercy upon us.

Lord have mercy upon us.

Dies irae, dies illa

Solvet saeclum in favilla,


Teste David cum Sibylla.


Quantus tremor est futurus

Quando judex est venturus

Cuncta stricte discussurus.

Day of wrath, that day

Will dissolve the earth in ashes

As David and the Sibyl bear witness.

What dread there will


When the Judge shall come

To judge all things strictly.

Rex tremendae majestatis,

Qui salvandos salvas gratis,

Salve me, fons pietatis.

King of awful majesty,

Who freely savest the redeemed,

Save me, O fount of goodness.

Confutatis maledictis


Flammis acribus addictis,


Voca me cum benedictis.

Oro supplex et acclinis,


Cor contritum quasi cinis,


Gere curam mei finis.

When the accursed have been confounded

And given over to the bitter flames,

Call me with the blessed.

I pray in supplication on my knees.

My heart contrite as the dust,

Safeguard my fate.

Lacrimosa dies illa

Qua resurget ex favilla


Judicandus homo reus.

Huic ergo parce, Deus,

Pie Jesu Domine,

Dona eis requiem.

Mournful that day

When from the dust shall rise

Guilty man to be judged.

Therefore spare him, O God.

Merciful Jesus, Lord

Grant them rest.

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus,

Dominus Deus Sabaoth!

Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua.

Osanna in excelsis.

Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God of Sabaoth

Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory.

Hosanna in the highest.